Can I freeze it? Yes you can!
As customers look for more ways to keep their kitchens well stocked, M&S’s director of food technology, Paul Willgoss, and resident chef, Steve Fitzgerald, share their top tips on how to make the most of your fridge and freezer space
Our freezing guide
There are lots of foods that you can put straight in the freezer instead of the fridge. This includes meat and poultry, ready-prepared meals, fresh pasta, bread, and even butter and cheese. Here’s some examples:
Milk
All milk can be stored in the freezer and defrosted before use – just make sure it’s still sealed. It should be defrosted fully in the fridge before use.
Cheese
Firmer cheeses like cheddar, gouda and Swiss freeze very well and maintain their structure. You can freeze in blocks, or grate and freeze in handy portion sizes.
Bread
Baked goods such as bread, rolls, pittas, bagels and crumpets can all be easily frozen. Loaves of bread can be bought ready sliced, or whole to be sliced yourself before freezing. Most toasters have a defrost function so you can toast baked goods from frozen.
Pasta
Fresh pasta is a great option to keep in the freezer. Some pasta won’t have to be defrosted before use either – it will defrost once put in boiling water.
Batch cooking
Consider cooking a larger portion at mealtimes to freeze for a later date. Make sure you freeze the leftovers as soon as possible, once they’re fully cooled, mark clearly the date it was cooked and frozen on the container fo reference later, and only defrost or re-heat the meal once.
Freezing: what you need to know
Around three quarters of our ready prepared meals and more than half our desserts are suitable for freezing – look out for the ‘suitable for freezing’ logo. Simply freeze on the day of purchase and follow the guidance on the packaging for the length of time it can stay frozen.
How to defrost food safely
Thinking about the best way to prep your food for freezing is important. But it’s even more important to defrost your food properly.
The Food Standards Agency website has everything you need to know about freezing and defrosting food safely, including:
- Make sure any warm dishes are cooled before putting them in your freezer.
- Place food in an air-tight container or wrap it well in freezer bags or freezer wrap.
- If the food has been defrosted it must be cooked before being eaten to be safe.
- Once defrosted, food should be consumed immediately.
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